Teresa Shields Owusu

April 4, 2013

Teresa Shields Owusu

PAWTUCKET - Teresa (Terry) Shields Owusu, 54, passed away April 3, 2013 after a long illness in Pawtucket, RI, where she had made her home for the past thirty years. Terry was a native of North Adams, MA, and the daughter of the late John and Mary (Rice) Shields.
Terry graduated from Drury High School in North Adams in 1976. She obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work from Providence College and a Master of Science Degree from the University of Rhode Island. She devoted her professional career to helping the most troubled and disadvantaged of society in the urban areas of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Early in her career she directed various programs dealing with drug addiction and rehabilitation. In the 1990s she was the Director of a Catholic Charities home in Newton, MA, devoted to providing shelter, guidance and job training to battered women and their children. She most recently directed a similar program at the Womens Center of Providence, RI. Terry was an active member of the Providence Presbyterian Church, where she served as a deacon for several years.
In keeping with Terry's care of the down trodden and outcast, she was also a lover of animals and cared for many rescued pets. Her kind heart and eternally optimistic faith in the goodness of mankind will be greatly missed by her family, friends and colleagues. She enjoyed spending time with her family and especially loved visiting the Maine seacoast, where they vacationed for many years.
Terry leaves her beloved husband, Nicholas Owusu of Pawtucket, RI, a brother, J. Michael Shields and his wife Linda of Orchid Beach, FL; two sisters, Mary Lou Selsby and her husband Harvey of Kennebunkport, ME, Sandra Shields and her fianc David Horan of Westfield, MA; an aunt, Ellen Tornabene of Pownal, VT, and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services will be held at Southview Cemetery in North Adams, MA, at 12 noon on Friday April 5, 2013. A memorial service will be held at the Providence Presbyterian Church, 500 Hope Street, Providence, RI, at 11:30 am on Saturday April 6, 2013.
Contributions in Terry's memory may be made to the Providence Presbyterian Church Providence, RI 02906. For further information, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.